Both my family and DH's are geographically scattered (by UK standards!); I don't get to see mine at all (not a problem, see them at other times) and there is a brief post-Christmas visit by some of DH's in which we cram in as much time together as we can. This usually involves one total-family gathering, usually starting at noon, involving much food and drink, and more often than not this is at our house. One local visitor will offer to bring something, and will bring one dish, sufficient for about one-third of the numbers actually present. Another will offer, and I will usually say no, since she has small children and a large gathering of her own on Christmas Day, and is short on preparation time, and because I like to cook. She always brings wine anyway.
So what's going to be different this year? Firstly, if the travelling part of the family, who aren't in a position to bring food, say 'shall we bring some wine?' I'm going to say yes. Same as I did last year and on previous occasions. If, as on those previous occasions, they turn up without any, and say vaguely 'oh, shall we go over to Shop and get some?' I am going to over-rule DH when he says 'don't bother, we've got enough'. Yes! Do! The vegetarian dish would be best with a very dry white and the beef wants a heavy red. We'll want at least two bottles of each, and you did say you were bringing it so I rather assumed that you meant it.
if I have provided nuts and nibbles, two main courses, a vegetarian option, four sorts of salad, baked potatoes, garlic bread, two desserts, mince pies, cake, Christmas cookies, cheese and biscuits and home made sweets, believe me, there will be enough food. Probably an indication that there is enough food is the fact that people have been eating and drinking for something in the region of five hours, and there is still food on the table.
So if part of the family wants a further meal, less than two hours after they stop eating what I've presented, then that part can go to the local hotel and order an additional three course meal, same as they've done in previous years. The difference this year is that I am not going with them. I am not paying commercial rates for a large meal I don't want and don't need, and that is, in any event, not as good as the one I've just provided which would sustain any normal person for another twelve hours, and I'm not going short on the wine that either they or I have provided just so that I can drive across town to not have a glass of wine there either because I'll have to drive back afterwards.
When I write it down it doesn't look like a very big hill, but there you are, it's my own.
